The Press., 1887-10-20
THE LETTER.

It was at Saint ValerY- en- Caux, during the bathing season, that Mime. Alice Vivien first met Roger de Beaumont.
 Roger was finding the hours quite tedious at that domestic resort.
 He had noticed Mime. Vivien, who was, by far the prettiest of all the fair bath CTS at the place, and he thought that of varying the monotonous life he was leading.
 Mme. Vivien dwelt in pretty cottage by the seaside. Her husband, detained in Paris by his business, could only manage to come down once week and remain with her from Saturday to Mon day.
 At the age of IT Alice had been married. to MT. Vivien, gentleman 35 years of age, whose devotion to her was blending of love with fatherly tenderness.
 She was an honest, upright woman who would have repulsed Roger de Beau mont had he begun to make love to her.
 But the young man was too shrewd to proceed in this way. He understood the young woman's ingenious heart, and he endeavOred to gain her confidence by slow degrees
 He was the ideal of her most secret thoughts; in a months time he had gained her love, even before she herself was aware of it.
 Roger himself was beginning to take an interest in the game he was playing. He even felt a growing passion for that adOr able and artleSs young woman, and one evening, while with her at the pierhead, where they had gone to enjoy the breeze, he exclaimed, in voice full of emotion:
 "I love yOuP'
 She tried to make him hush, to show that she was offended; but he, whose ardOr and boldness seemed heightened by the charm and poetry of the delightful evening, continued, in passionate tone:
 ''I have loved you since the first day I saw you! And you love me, tool I know it, feel it! Only let me worship you. Don't avoid me, don't repulse me?'
 "Hush! for Heavens sake, hush!'
 "Oh! do not answer me in that way; me, who adore you; let me hope that you will say that you love me!'
 As he looked at her she seemed ready to faint; shining teardrops were yelling in her eyes, and her little hand quivered like q captive bird.
 'Let me go," saAd she in voice scarcely audible.
 He escorted her to her gate, and, bow ing low, he said: 'I shall expect an answer; it will be 8 sentence of death or a command to live.''
 An avowal would perhaps have escaped from Alice's lips had not the noise of footsteps and the sound of voices fallen on her ear.
 Dreading to be seen, and already as timorous as a guilty person, the young woman withdrew and hastily entered the house.
 ''I love him, too! I love himr' mur- mured she, and remembering how anXiously the young man had wished for an avowal of her love, feeling her heart overfloWing, she hastily wrote with fe- verish hand:
 "Roger, love you, and shall inpatient ly wait for tomorrow. ALICE.''
 She smiled while thinking of the glad ness that would fill Rogers heart when he read her letter, and, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, she hastened out to drop it in the letter box.
 She had barely returned to the house when 8 vague feeling of dread began to oppress her. The intoxicating charm that had possessed her was dissipated, and, to her mind, came the picture of her husband, so confiding and loving.
 The next day, from the moment she awoke, she had but one thought, to get back her letter.
 About 4 o'clock ill the afternoon she went to the casino, where she was sure to find Roger, who, as soon as he saw her, advanced with outstretched hands, his eyes beaming with triumphal joy.
 ''Sir," said she, yesterday I had a mo- ment of folly; forget it, please!-I do not love you, I swear it'll have never loved you! and shall never love you-no, never!''
 Roger, disappointed, looked at her, wicked smile playing about his lips.
 ''You are an adorable capricious wo- man,' said he, somewhat insolently, to conceal his veXation.
 "Oh, sir, do not be unkind. Please give me back the letter I so foolishly sent youp'
 "But I appreciate your letter very much. It is charmingn'
 ''Sir, am faithful wife and I love my husband.''
 The young man smiled again, and lean ing toward Alice he looked straight into her eyes as he said:
 'I haven't your letter with me. I care fully locked it up at home"
 The young woman stepped back in stinctively.
 "Be generous, for heavens sake! Do what I ask. I do not wish to see you again. Send me back my letter, I be- seech you. Return it to me through the postOffice."
 She begged him with clasped hands, her face pale with anguish.
 "Perhapsr' replied the young man, deliberately, lowing gracefully as he started off.
 She felt like following him, to tell him how angry she was, but, some of her friends coming up, she was obliged to stop and talk to them about indifferent and frivolous matters while her very soul was tortured by impatience and feelings of shame.
 It was Thursday, and she thought of leaving the next day, as soon as she got her letter back, picturing to herself the happiness she would feel in rejOining her husband.
 She slept very badly, at times certain that Roger would return her letter, and, at others, dreading that he would not dc so especially when she remembered his insolent, ironical look.
 About in the morning, just as the fatigue brought on by her emotion wse setting her asleep, she was awakened with a start by the sound of hurried footsteps.
 Some one rapped at the door.
 "Alice, it is l." called ont MT. Vivien' s joyful voice. -.'f
 She hastened to let him in, exclaiming with transport: 'sWhy, is 1t you alreadyS was not expecting you for two days yet?'
 II wished to surprise you. I was able to finish all my business little ahead of time, but I did not dare send you word, as was afraid that at the last moment